Thymoquinone treatment enhances T cell-mediated anti-tumor response

Abstract Oil from Nigella sativa seeds (“black seed oil”) has been used for health care and medical purposes over 2000 years. The major active compound thymoquinone (TQ) shown to have immune regulatory effects in various diseases. Tumor microenvironment is critical tumor development. Immune cells, particularly T are central players kill cells affect progression metastasis. impact of TQ on human cell-mediated anti-tumor response was investigated. Using PBMCs, we activated with anti-CD3/CD28 vitro, treated TQ. First, tested the cell activation, proliferation apoptosis; second, effect after treatment TQ; last, determined alterations gene expression at RNA level treatment. increased activation days 2–4 more activation-induced death day 3. After 7–11 days, TQ-treated showed less survival than control medium. At low concentration (10uM), induced CD3+ proliferation; while 20uM 50uM cytotoxic death. When co-cultured multiple types cancer exhibited significantly enhanced activity, indicated by apoptosis expansion. Gene study upregulation NFAT signaling pathway, including 10+ fold up-regulation IL-2, which might explain In summary, can enhance vitro. This immunoregulatory function could benefit patients different cancers. Supported grants NIH/ NIGMS (2U54GM104942-02, 5U54GM104942-03).